Preschoolers graduate with pomp, parents swell with pride

By Daphne Sashin, CNN

Updated 9:47 AM ET, Wed June 12, 2013

How preschoolers celebrate graduation18 photos

Pint-sized graduates – Ashton Downie was one of three graduates from B&B Love and Care Center in Roseville, California. After the ceremony, the preschool held an ice cream social reception and provided a bounce house for the children to play in. They had much to celebrate! This year, Ashton learned to clearly write his name (first and last), and he recognizes all upper- and lower-case letters and can count to 20.

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How preschoolers celebrate graduation18 photos

Pint-sized graduates – Jasmin Carrasco's graduating class at Piaget Academy in Orlando, Florida, performed a hip-hop version of the children's book "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom." The students walked across a stage to receive their diplomas. "It's very much like a high school or college graduation but with the added cuteness of 4- to 5-year-olds who have a hard time sitting still," said mom Micaela Gomez.

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How preschoolers celebrate graduation18 photos

Pint-sized graduates – Danielle Winters says her son Chase may not have thought of his graduation from First Family Early Learning Center in New Castle, Delaware, as anything other than a fun day with friends -- but for her extended family, it was something more. "The reality is that his great-grandfather may not live to see a high school or college graduation. This was such a gift, and I know they all appreciated it!"

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How preschoolers celebrate graduation18 photos

Pint-sized graduates – Graduates from Creative Learning Preschool in Granby, Connecticut, performed a skit inspired by Eric Carle's "The Very Hungry Caterpillar." Rachel Haywood's son Riley played the part of the pear. "This is their first step into their whole lives, so to speak," she said of the move to kindergarten. "They will be completely independent of their mommies and daddies for the first time."

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How preschoolers celebrate graduation18 photos

Pint-sized graduates – Riley Haywood received this gift bag -- teddy bear, pencil, stickers, goldfish and punny note all included -- from his preschool teacher as congratulations on his graduation.

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How preschoolers celebrate graduation18 photos

Pint-sized graduates – Little Linguists International Preschool in Atlanta honored students with a "Starry Night"-themed graduation. The kids recited a poem, sang two songs (one in Mandarin and one in Spanish) and performed a dance before receiving their diplomas. "Sure, I can see why people would think it's a bit over the top, but as a parent, I'm glad there was a way to celebrate this small but important milestone in my son's life," said Patty Everett, whose son Cole got a hug from his younger brother.

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How preschoolers celebrate graduation18 photos

Pint-sized graduates – The Friedberg JCC in Merrick, New York, sent graduating preschoolers off with a yearbook (cover art by a grad's grandmother). Mom Stephanie Blakeman was one of four committee chairs and its layout editor. "I completed each section with the same thoroughness and methodology I put into my high school yearbook 20 years ago," she said. "I believed in the longevity of a yearbook and wanted this to be treasured by my daughter and her classmates years down the road."

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How preschoolers celebrate graduation18 photos

Pint-sized graduates – The JCC preschoolers were also treated to a class trip to a petting zoo and a prom, where a DJ was in the Merrick Jewish Centre's ballroom playing songs such as "Gangnam Style" and the No. 1 song choice for these graduates, "Call Me Maybe." An arts and crafts table and carnival-themed photobooth completed their pre-K prom experience, which was capped with ice cream sundaes and chocolate fondue treats.

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How preschoolers celebrate graduation18 photos

Pint-sized graduates – Turns out lots of preschools have proms! Calvin Coursen struts the red carpet at his preschool prom at Kiddie Academy of Eatontown in Eatontown, New Jersey. "I personally loved seeing my son dressed up and so excited to be with all his friends," said mom Gwendolyn Coursen.

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How preschoolers celebrate graduation18 photos

How preschoolers celebrate graduation – The CHAPS Early Childhood Center in Hudson, Massachusetts, held its preschool prom first thing in the morning, complete with photo stations and kiddie sing-a-longs. Bella Anderson agreed to leave her Spider-Man tennis shoes at home and wore a summer dress with pink party shoes.

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How preschoolers celebrate graduation18 photos

How preschoolers celebrate graduation – For Mason Smith's graduation from Rosemary's Preschool in Logan, Utah, his teacher made cardboard caps with Fruit Loop tassels. "I think it's important to celebrate all graduations from pre-K to doctorates," said mom Megan Smith. "By letting a child know early on how proud you are of them for their accomplishments, it helps them understand how important it is to continue with that behavior. Think about it, we scream and applaud at the first potty; we should do the same with every milestone!"

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How preschoolers celebrate graduation18 photos

How preschoolers celebrate graduation – Five-year-old Nadiyah Grace earned a pedicure and manicure after being named valedictorian of her graduating class at the Adorable Tots Preschool in Pensacola, Florida. She delivered a speech at the graduation ceremony, telling the crowd, "This has been a great year for me. I have learned a lot. My favorite things to do are read and play games on the iPad. I will have no problems in kindergarten next year."

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How preschoolers celebrate graduation18 photos

Pint-sized graduates – Marshall Griffin received the "Best Reader" award at his graduation from D.P. Morris Elementary in Arlington, Texas. Part of their graduation ceremony was performing songs for the parents. In this picture, he is hopping up and down, singing one of the songs. Many of the children in his class, including Marshall, are on the autism spectrum. "The teacher also gave a little speech about the year she's had with the children, and she cried, making all of us cry," said Marshall's mom, Roni.

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How preschoolers celebrate graduation18 photos

Pint-sized graduates – Jesse Martinez says his daughter Isabella's graduation from Lindemann Elementary in Allen Park, Michigan, was "very laid back." The children romped around in the park, sang songs for the attending parents and received certificates for completion of preschool.

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How preschoolers celebrate graduation18 photos

Pint-sized graduates – Jill Elfering said her son Mac's graduation from Blessed Trinity Catholic Preschool in Minneapolis was a "precious yet simple" sendoff to kindergarten. The kids processed in with their paper graduation hats, and their teacher talked about the year and the students' accomplishments, highlighting their three main themes: "I'll try," I'll do my best" and "I'm washable." After the ceremony, there was a small reception with lemonade and Rice Krispie bars.

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How preschoolers celebrate graduation18 photos

Pint-sized graduates – Five-year-old Sophie woke up extra excited because she knew she was graduating preschool in northern New Jersey. "As soon as my husband and I dropped her off at school, I started to cry," mom Kathleen Schmidt said. The graduation ceremony was a low-key affair, after which Schmidt bought her daughter a big coloring book, crayons, candy and sparkly lip gloss. "I'm not sure about anyone else, but the simple things make my 5-year-old daughter happy."

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How preschoolers celebrate graduation18 photos

Pint-sized graduates – Jean-Paul Yoko attended a preschool graduation for his girlfriend's daughter Adiena at Ecole Guyot in Manitoba, Canada, where each child received a graduation certificate and contributed snacks and juice to the reception. He says a preschool ceremony "gives some sort of closure to the teachers who have worked so hard with these kids throughout the year."

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How preschoolers celebrate graduation18 photos

Pint-sized graduates – Pleasant Hope Elementary School in Missouri put on a graduation ceremony and party inspired by the Dr. Seuss book "Oh, the Places You'll Go!" (popular among graduates of all ages). Kim Jarman, mom of Riley, along with a few other homeroom parents, made truffula trees and a replica hot air balloon in which the children posed for pictures.

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Story highlights

It's graduation season, even for preschools

Caps and gowns, diplomas and even proms are for tots, too

Preschool is harder than it used to be, parents say; families want to commemorate the milestone

But those moments could not compare to the preschool graduation performance at the First Family Early Learning Center in New Castle, Delaware, if excitement is any measure.

Each member of the graduating class was assigned to recite a poem or song for each letter of the alphabet to showcase all they had learned that year. ("D" for days of the week, "N" for numbers.)

Five-year-old Chase Winters had practiced his lines for weeks. When it was time for letter "K," Chase, dressed in tan pants and vest, along with a matching blue shirt and tie, approached the microphone and looked out into the crowd. His mom, Danielle, waited anxiously in the crowd.

"K is for kindergarten, we start in the fall; When we started preschool, we were very small; we're much bigger now, look how tall; so it's off to kindergarten in the fall."

"In that moment, I was filled with so many emotions," Danielle wrote on CNN iReport. "Proud that he had done a great job, surprised at how mature he has become, and sad that my baby is quickly growing up!"

A whole new crop of parents got to experience the wonder of the preschool commencement this season. With graduation tassels made of fruit loops, miniature diplomas, kiddie proms and even yearbooks, teachers and parents made sure the passage to kindergarten was marked in style. (A notable exception: The Los Angeles preschool graduation that turned into a brawl because all the kids had to share a single cap and gown for pictures.)

Yes, cynics of the preschool pomp and circumstance abound. Huffington Post blogger Rhiana Maidenberg (and mother of a preschooler getting ready to graduate) spoke for many when she wrote:

"Bleh! When did completing two years of preschool begin meriting a diploma? If anyone deserves to be celebrated, it is the parents who survived the trying preschool years. I would gladly accept a party and diploma for enduring the exasperating three-nagers and the frustrating 4-year-olds."

Plenty of parents cop to feeling the same way -- until they see their babies-no-more in tiny caps and gowns. Other families point out that today's preschool isn't what you remember.

These days, children are being aggressively prepared for kindergarten, with developmental and academic assessments and even homework -- yes, homework.

"You don't go to preschool for just nap time, coloring, graham crackers and playing all day. It's an actual learning and testing process, preparing them (particularly in Florida) for the vigorous training on learning how to take and pass standardized tests to move in to the next grade level," wrote mom Micaela Gomez, whose daughter, Jasmin, graduated pre-K from Piaget Academy in Orlando, Florida, last week.

Even in more play-based preschools, parents say the graduation to kindergarten is an important transition on a child's path to adulthood and making a big deal about it builds their confidence.

"Your child is going to go off on their own to school. You won't be there if they fall. You won't be there to open his carton of milk. You won't be there if he falls and gets a boo boo," said Rachel Haywood, mom of 4-year-old Riley. "This is their first step into their whole lives so to speak. They will be completely independent of their mommies and daddies for the first time."